President Donald Trump’s convulsive tariff policy, which all but reversed course Wednesday with the caveat that the same pain would return in 90 days, continues to scramble the world’s economic order. But against the upheaval of broken alliances and global supply chains, a small anxiety is emerging among Americans with wanderlust: how to travel abroad with the world’s most toxic passport.
Because who wants to host visitors who, if electorally judged, voted for this tumult? Even the Brits seem over us. In some ways, the question is an extension of the long-held stereotype that American travelers can be obnoxious. That they are loud and generally indifferent to local cultures. But under Trump, the stereotype feels rife for explosion.
So ahead of summer travel, I wondered: Will an American accent get your ass kicked? Should I pack a bunch of Resistance era clothing? What should I know about unlawful detentions? I called Amy Tara Koch, a travel reporter and lecturer at Northwestern University, for some quick answers on how to think about global travel during these strange times.
So first, let me get your impression, as someone who enjoys travel on a personal level, of Trump’s tariffs.
I’m not in favor of them. I’m not in favor of him. I’m not in favor of his policies. I’m not in favor of any of this.
I was in Europe last week, and many people asked me: “How did this happen? How? How could it have happened? We didn’t see it coming.” And my only response then, and it’s still my response now, is that I didn’t see it happening, either. I did not vote for Trump, and based on the shock I see, that echoes with the way people in Europe feel. People kind of commiserate with you.
So while being in Austria on assignment, I did not feel any animosity at all. But I feel confusion and distress. This opens the way to frank conversations, especially amid the tariff chaos.
I spoke to a few travel agents this morning, and what they were hearing is that American clients who have dual passports are opting to use the [other] one, particularly Canadians.
